Dodgers' Juan Uribe to see specialist about hip injury

The infielder, who has been sidelined since July 24, is expected to visit a specialist to determine whether he might be suffering from a more debilitating injury.

Juan Uribe has been out with a strained left hip since July 24, his second… (Kirby Lee / US Presswire )

With his recovery from a strained left hip having stalled, Dodgers infielder Juan Uribe is expected to visit a Los Angeles specialist Monday or Tuesday to determine whether he might be suffering from a more debilitating injury.

Two possibilities are a sports hernia or a strained abdominal muscle, Dodgers trainer Stan Conte said, though two previous MRIs did not reveal any strain.

"At some point, you need an explanation," Conte said. "We think he should be ready [to play] based on the timetable, but if you have the wrong timetable, then it explains some things."

Uribe has been sidelined since July 24, his second lengthy trip to the disabled list during a season in which he is hitting a career-low .204 with four home runs and 28 runs batted in.

Uribe declined to comment Saturday when approached at his clubhouse locker.

Conte said the treatment for a sports hernia would be the same as for a hip flexor: rest. If recovery is more prolonged than expected, non-career-threatening surgery would be an option.

Conte said he expected Uribe to be able to return this season. Uribe took batting practice and participated in some fielding drills before the Dodgers played the Houston Astros at Dodger Stadium.

Jansen has to wait 48 hours after he quits taking the medication to allow the blood thinners to leave his system before he pitches. If the right-hander is struck by a baseball before then, he could bleed excessively.

Jansen started taking the medication July 28 to prevent a blood clot or a stroke after being hospitalized for an irregular heartbeat. He has been pitching in the bullpen with hitters standing next to the catcher but not swinging.

Late celebration

It was after 1 a.m. Saturday when cheers rang out in Josh Lindblom's hometown of Lafayette, Ind.

The Dodgers reliever had pitched a perfect 10th inning against Houston only a few minutes earlier. When Matt Kemp's walk-off single in the bottom of the inning gave Lindblom his first career major league victory, Lindblom's father-in-law commemorated the moment by taking pictures of the televised celebration.

The Dodgers presented Lindblom, 24, with the game ball, which he said would eventually occupy a special spot in his house.

"Any time you can get a win in the big leagues," Lindblom said, "not too many people have been able to do that."

Short hops

Told that first-round draft pick Chris Reed was nervous when he pitched to him in the bullpen Friday, Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly said, "I was a little nervous too. [But] he did good; he didn't hit me." … Closer Javy Guerra will sign autographs at "Viva Los Dodgers Day" starting at 11:30 a.m. Sunday in Lot 6 of Dodger Stadium.